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Story  of  the  Sangamon  County 
Courthouse,  1821-1901 


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....COMPILED  BY.... 
M.      DOUGLAS       GIGER. 

APRIL  29,  1901. 


PHILLIPS  BROS. 


SPRINGFIELD,  ILL. 


HISTORICAL  SURYtf 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  presenting  the  Story  of  the  Sangamon  County  Court  House  to 
the  public,  it  has  been  my  purpose  to  give  a  brief,  concise,  yet  authen- 
tic history  of  Sangamon  county's  various  "temples  of  justice"  from 
the  stick-chimneyed  chink-and-daubed  log  cabin,  to  the  magnificent, 
unique  and  substantial  structure  that  now  adorns  the  public  square. 

Underlying  this  story,  the  reader  can  but  notice  the  phenominal 
growth  of  this  "richest  of  counties"  from  the  primitive  settlement  on 
Spring  Creek,  when  the  taxable  property  consisted  of  "horses,  neat 
cattle,  wheel  carriages  and  stock  in  trade  and  distillery,"  (the  taxes 
on  which  were  payable  in  coon  skins  or  such  other  commodities  as 
happened  to  be  on  hand),  to  the  present  grand,  capital  county 
of  the  State  with  its  72,000  people  and  $15,000,000  of  taxable  prop- 
erty. 

I  desire  to  acknowledge  and  express  my  appreciation  of  the  valu- 
able services  rendered  me  by  my  friend,  Edward  J.  Chenery,  the 
efficient  and  obliging  secretary  of  the  Abstract  and  Title  Guaranty 
Company,  whose  assistance  has  been  of  inestimable  value  to  me 
in  aiding  and  encouraging  me  in  the  work. 

The  facts  contained  in  the  following  pages,  have  been  gathered 
with  much  care  and  research,  but  if  those  into  whose  hands  they  fall 
get  the  same  satisfaction  in  their  perusal,  that  I  have  enjoyed 
in  digging  them  out,  I  shall  be  fully  compensated  for  my  labor. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

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of  the 

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In  the  year  1818  Illinois  was  admitted  to  the  Union  and  the  same 
year  Elisha  and  John  Kelley,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  with  a  few 
relatives  and  friends  emigrated  to  what  was  then  the  far,  far  West. 
They  built  their  cabins  and  formed  a  settlement  in  the  timber  stretch- 
ing along  the  Town  Branch,  a  stream  that  in  early  days  flowed  through 
the  center  of  what  is  now  the  City  of  Springfield,  Illinois. 

Sangamon  county  was  established  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly January  30, 1821,  and  the  original  boundaries  were  approximately 
as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  intersection  of  the  third  principal 
meridian  with  the  Illinois  river  (near  LaSalle) ,  and  following  down 
the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Negro  creek  (say  Meredosia),  thence  strik- 
ing southeasterly  across  the  prairie  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
present  county,  and  thence  east  along  the  north  line  of  township  12 
to  the  meridian  line  (about  ten  miles  east  of  Taylorville) ,  and  thence 
north  to  the  beginning.  It  will  be  seen  from  these  boundaries  that 
Sangamon  county  comprised  the  very  heart  of  what  was  then  known 
as  the  famous  "Sangamo  country" — the  most  fertile  and  productive 
land  in  the  United  States.  By  this  act  it  was  provided  that  as  soon 
as  the  county  commissioners  were  elected  they  should  meet  at  some 
convenient  place  as  near  the  center  of  population  as  possible,  and 
such  place  when  selected  should  be  the  temporary  seat  of  justice  for 
the  county.  Rivers  Cormack,  Zachariah  Peters  and  William  Dren 
nan  were  elected  commissioners  and  qualified  as  such  on  April  3, 1.821 

The  Kelleys  were  hunters  and  had  sought  this  place  as  a  quiet  spot 
where  they  could  be  "far  from  the  madning  crowds'  ignoble  strife;" 
they  wanted  to  be  on  the  firing  line  of  civilization,  but  the  commis- 
sioners came  into  their  midst  for  the  reason  that  it  was  the  only  place 
in  the  country  where  enough  families  could  be  found  in  the  vicinity 
to  take  in  the  members  of  the  court,  and  in  the  kindness  of  their 


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hearts  these  rough  pioneers  welcomed  them  to  their  cabins.  Thus  it 
was  that  in  the  spring  of  1821  the  commissioners  named  above  held 
a  court  at  Kelley's  settlement,  on  the  waters  of  Spring  creek,  and 
Charles  R.  Matheny  was  appointed  clerk  and  entered  into  bond  with 
James  Latham,'of  Elkheart  grove,  as  security.  At  a  county  commis- 
sioners' court  held  April  10,  1821,  at  the  house  of  John  Kelley,  on 
the  waters  of  Spring  creek,  the  commissioners  presented  their  cer- 
tificate of  the  location  of  the  temporary  seat  of  justice  for  the  county 
of  "  Sangamo,"  in  which  they  state  they  have  fixed  and  designated  a 
certain  point  in  the  prairie  near  John  Kelley's  field  on  the  waters  of 
Spring  creek  at  a  stake  marked  "ZD"  as  the  temporary  seat  of  jus- 
tice for  said  county,  and  do  further  agree  that  the  said  county  seat 
be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Spring  Field.  The  certificate  is 
signed  by[Zachariah  Peter  and  Wm.  Drennan.  The  certificate  being 
recorded  in  court  record  "A,"  page  3. 

The  stake  marked  "  ZD  "  is  generally  believed  to  have  been  set  at 
or  near  the  corner  of  Second  and  Jefferson  streets. 

On  April  10,  1821,  the  commissioners  entered  into  a  contract  with 
John  Kelley,  by  which  Kelley  for  the  sum  of  $42.50  agreed  to  build 
a  court  house  in  the  prevailing  style,  the  logs  to  be  20  feet  long,  the 
house  one  story  high,  plank  floor,  a  good  cabin  roof,  a  door  and  win- 
dow cut  out ;  the  work  to  be  completed  by  May  1st,  next.  This  con- 
tract was  not  quite  as  lengthy  as  the  Warren  Roberts  contract ;  but 
John  Kelley  must  have  fulfilled  his  part  on  time,  for  the  record  shows 
the  next  term  of  court  "  was  held  at  the  court  house  in  Springfield  " 
on  June  4th,  1821.  There  was  no  haggling  over  red  warrants,  be- 
cause page  9*shows  that  on  June  5th,  John  Kelley  was  allowed  $42.50 
due  him  by  contract  for  building  the  court  house  and  $5.00  for 
"extras."  The  record  does  not  disclose  what  John  did  with  all  the 
money. 

Prior  to  June  5,  1821,  the  record  shows  the  name  of  the  county  as 
Sangamo,  but  without  any  apparent  reason  on  this  day  a  letter  is 
added  making  it  Sangamow,  and  so  it  reads  to  this  day.  Another 
peculiar  act  was  performed  by  the  court.  The  county  was  divided 
into  four  districts,  and  overseers  for  the  poor  were  appointed — two 
for  each  district,  the  court  then  appointed  three  trustees  to  look  after 
the  overseers  of  the  poor.  It  does  not  appear  that  anyone  was  ap- 
pointed to  look  after  the  trustees.  And  so  the  summer  passed  away 
in  this  little  out-of-the-way  village,  and  along  about  the  time  the  frost 
began  to  gather  on  the  pumpkins  and  the  autumn  wind  to  whistle 
through  the  cracks  of  this  primitive  temple  of  justice  and  incident- 
ally through  the  whiskers  of  the  county  officers ;  they  bethought 
themselves  of  winter  cheer.  So  one  Jesse  Brevard  contracted  to 


patch  up  the  court  house  for  the  winter.  Nine  years  after  this  they 
had  a  snow  five  feet  deep.  He  agreed  to  chink  outside  and  daub  in- 
side. Boards  sawed  and  nailed  on  the  inside  cracks,  a  good  and  suf- 
ficient door  shutter,  to  be  made  with  good  plank  and  hung  with  good 
iron  hinges,  with  a  latch.  A  window  to  be  cut  out,  faced  and  cased, 
to  contain  nine  lights,  with  a  good,  sufficient  shutter  hung  on  the 
outside.  A  fire-place  to  be  cut  out  seven  feet  wide,  and  a  good,  suf- 
ficient wooden  chimney,  built  with  a  good,  sufficient  back  and  hearth. 
Jesse  did  all  this  for  $20.50. 

Robert  Hamilton  built  the  county  jail  for  $84.75. 

Joseph  Thomas  was  allowed  $1.00  for  the  plans  of  this  jail,  and 
on  December  3,  1821,  John  Taylor,  the  sheriff,  started  the  first 
racket  in  the  board  by  claiming  the  jail  was  no  account. 

At  a  court  held  March  1 ,  1822,  the  court  began  to  put  on  a  little 
style,  so  they  ordered  that  fourteen  rods  east  and  west,  including  the 
street,  and  twelve  rods  north  and  south,  including  the  street,  in  the 
town  of  Springfield,  on  which  the  court  house  now  stands,  be  set 
apart  for  public  purposes  and  the  accommodation  of  the  court  house 
and  other  public  buildings. 

Prior  to  1823,  the  principal  occupation  of  the  frontiersman  of  the 
Kelley  settlement  consisted  in  hunting,  trapping,  fishing  and  bee- 
hunting;  but  the  fame  of  the  "Sangamo  country"  spread  through  the 
land  and  the  town  began  to  fill  up  with  progressive  citizens  accus- 
tomed to  the  more  advanced  ways  of  the  larger  cities  of  the  East. 

About  this  time  came  such  men  as  Major  Elijah  lies,  Pascal  P. 
Enos,  Col.  Thomas  Cox,  Charles  R.  Matheny,  Mordecai  Mobley, 
Thomas  M.  Neale,  James  C.  Stevenson  and  Daniel  P.  Cook.  lies  and 
Enos  in  1823  laid  out  the  town.  It  was  called  "Calhoun"  in  honor  of 
the  great  nullifier  of  South  Carolina;  but  the  name  was  not  popular 
and  but  little  used,  the  name  of  the  postoffice  being  Springfield.  The 
streets  and  alleys  and  the  lots  and  blocks  exist  the  same  today  as  laid 
out  by  them  in  1823.  The  plat  comprises  that  portion  of  the  city 
bounded  on  the  west  by  First  street,  on  the  east  by  Seventh  street, 
on  the  north  by  Madison  street,  and  on  the  south  by  Monroe;  the 
public  square  remaining  as  it  is.  All  of  the  persons  above  named 
proceeded  to  lay  off  strips  of  land  between  the  several  streets  and 
running  from  Madison  street  north  to  the  quarter  section  line  near 
Enos  avenue,  and  from  Monroe  street  south  to  the  quarter  section 
line  near  Lawrence  avenue.  These  strips  they  deeded  to  each  other 
alternately,  so  that  no  one  person  would  have  a  large  tract  of  land 
near  the  center  of  improvements.  Major  lies  kept  a  store  and  lived 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Second  streets.  Col.  John 
Williams  was  his  clerk.  East  of  this  was  the  store  of  Jabez  Capps. 


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Across  the  street  was  the  store  and  home  of  Archer  Herndon.  Next 
east  was  Hooper  Warren  the  printer,  and  next  east  the  home  and 
office  of  P.  P.  Enos,  the  public  land  agent.  On  the  northwest  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Jefferson  was  the  residence  of  Dr.  William  Jayne's 
father,  Dr.  Gershom  Jayne.  This  house  stood  until  replaced  by 
Centra]  Music  Hall.  Jefferson  street  was  the  only  thoroughfare  in 
the  town  and  all  the  business  centered  about  First  and  Second  streets. 
On  the  southeast  corner  of  First  and  Jefferson  streets  stood  the 
Abrams  Inn;  next  east  the  store  of  John  Taylor;  next  the  "Buck 
Tavern,"  kept  by  Andrew  Elliott.  William  Carpenter  lived  and  kept 
a  store  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Second  and  Jefferson.  On  the 
north  side  of  Jefferson,  between  First  and  Second  streets,  were  a  row 
of  small  shops  occupied  by  various  craftsmen,  including  the  inevit- 
able justice  of  the  peace  in  the  person  of  Asa  Shaw.  Following  Jeffer- 
son street  west  to  the  crossing  at  the  branch  (Pasfield  street)  we  find 
the  ox-mill  and  distillery  of  Colonel  Cox.  His  tavern  stood  at  the  north 
side  of  Jefferson  near  First  street.  West  of  the  mill-lot  was  the  rook- 
quarry.  On  the  south  side  of  Jefferson  at  Pasfield  street  and  across 
the  branch  was  the  tan-yard  of  William  Proctor,  and  up  over  the  hill 
on  which  the  High  School  stands  and  a  little  to  the  west  and  south 
was  a  settlement  called  "Newsomville" — jocularly  called  "Nuisance- 
ville"  by  the  jealous  residents  of  the  "Old  Town."  On  the  south  side 
of  Jefferson  just  east  of  the  tan-yard  stood  the  cabin  of  Uncle  Billy 
Fagan,  next  east  the  house  of  William  Baker,  and  next  the  home  of 
John  Moor,  the  step-father  of  Isaac  A.  Hawley.  On  the  southwest 
corner  of  First  and  Jefferson  Streets  lived  Sherrill  the  cobbler.  Other 
persons  here  at  the  time,  were  Gen.  J.  D.  Henry,  Dr.  John  Todd, 
Edward  Mitchell,  Dr.  John  G.  Bergen,  P.  C.  Latham,  Z.  A.  Enos, 
Isaac  A.  Hawley,  Gordon  Abrams,  Dr.  Garrett  Elkin,  Thomas 
Strawbridge,  Dr.  Darling,  Jacob  Plank,  "Aunt  Creecy"  a  free  negress, 
and  others. 

At  this  period  the  road  leading  from  St.  Louis  met  the  road 
from  Vincennes  at  Macoupin  point  and  followed  close  to  the  line  of 
the  old  Chatham  road,  passing  the  Master's  farm  house  (Second  and 
Lawrence)  on  the  east  and  then  swerving  to  the  left  over  the  hill 
through  the  grove  where  the  Capitol  now  stands,  then  up  First  street, 
crossing  the  branch  at  Adams,  and  on  up  First  to  Jefferson,  then  east 
on  Jefferson  to  Fourth,  thence  across  the  country  by  the  Converse 
farm  and  on  northward  to  Erastus  Wright's  ferry  at  Fort  Clark 
(Peoria),  and  then  on  to  Galena  and  the  lead  mines.  Mr.  Wright 
afterwards  lived  in  Springfield  and  traded  eighty  acres  of  land  for  a 
tame  elk  that  he  rode  and  drove  to  harness  like  a  horse.  The  other 
road  ran  west  on  Jefferson  from  First,  crossing  the  branch  at  the  tan- 


9 

yard,  ran  a  little  to  the  southwest  passing  Newsomville,  to  the  forks. 
Here  one  road  branched  off  to  Beardstown  running  close  to  the  pres- 
ent line  of  the  Beardstown  road;  the  other  struck  out  to  the  south- 
west for  the  Diamond  Grove  (Jacksonville),  following  the  line  of  the 
old  Jacksonville  road. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  December  23,  1824,  the 
boundaries  of  the  county  were  re-established,  and  James  Mason, 
Rowland  P.  Allen,  Charles  Gear,  John  G.  Lofton  and  John  R.  Sloo, 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  locate  the  permanent  seat  of  justice 
of  the  county.  It  was  stipulated  in  thisjact  that  the  parties  on  whose 
lands  the  county  seat  was  located,  should  donate  to  the  county  thirty- 
five  acres  of  land  adjoining  it. 

When  the  above  law  was  passed,  quite  a  struggle  ensued  between 
Springfield,  Sangamo  town  and  a  "paper  town"  located  on  the  river 
where  the  water  works  now  stands.  The  historic  town  of  Sangamo — 
where  Lincoln  built  his  flat  boat — was  located  on  the  west  bluff  of  the 
river  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  two  in  Gardner  township.  It 
has  long  been  extinct.  Charles  Broadwell  was  the  proprietor,  and  at  the 
time  the  question  of  locating  the  permanent  county  seat  was  agi- 
tated, had  grown  into  quite  a  respectable  town  for  those  days,  and 
was  actually  a  better  location  than  Springfield,  it  was  on  the  water, 
contained  several  stores,  had  a  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  and  a  carding 
machine.  The  other  rival  of  Springfield  was  a  town  that  existed  on 
paper,  and  was  principally  owned  by  speculators  from  the  east,  of 
whom  Wm.  S.  Hamilton,  a  young  lawyer  and  son  of  Alexander 
Hamilton,  of  Aaron  Burr  fame,  was  the  prime  mover.  The  commis- 
sioners, it  seems,  were  required  to  view  the  various  sites  offered,  much 
as  parties  seeking  factory  sites  do  nowadays,  and  after  visiting 
Springfield,  with  which  they  were  not  very  much  impressed,  inquired 
the  nearest  route  to  Sangamo  and  Hamilton's  town. 

Major  lies  and  the  other  citizens  would  not  hear  of  their  leaving 
without  a  guide,  so  Andrew  Elliott,  the  keeper  of  the  "Buck 
Tavern,"  and  a  noted  woodsman  volunteered  to  show  them  the  way. 
It  is  now  about  an  hour's  drive  to  old  Sangamo  town,  but  Elliott 
took  the  commissioners  in  a  roundabout  way  through  swamps  and 
thickets,  and  back  and  forth  across  Spring  creek  and  the  river,  and 
when  the  commissioners  arrived  at  Sangamo  they  were  so  exhausted 
and  disgusted  with  the  supposed  inaccessible  region,  that  they  would 
listen  to  no  explanations  and  soon  put  back  to  Springfield,  where 
after  hanging  fire  like  a  legislative  committee,  they  finally  located 
the  permanent  county  seat.  It  would  be  impossible  to  calculate  of 
how  much  value  this  decision  was  for  the  struggling  little  town  at 
that  period.  The  State  warrants  for  expenses  held  by  the  commis- 


10 

sioners  were  practically  worthless,  as  there  were  at  that  date 
no  taxable  lands,  and  Major  lies  intimated  that  if  it  should  so  hap- 
pen that  they  should  select  Springfield,  he  would  see  that  their  war- 
rants were  cashed.  The  warrants  were  cashed. 

The  commissioners  made  formal  report  to  the  court  March  18, 
1825,  that  they  had  located  the  permanent  county  seat  at  Springfield, 
and  Major  lies  and  P.  P.  Enos  deeded  to  the  county  a  tract  of  land, 
beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Fifth  and  Monroe  streets,  thence 
north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Fifth  and  Washington  streets,  thence 
east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Washington  streets,  thence 
north  to  Madison  street,  thence  east  to  the  quarter  section  line  be- 
tween Eight  and  Ninth  streets,  thence  south  to  Monroe  street, 
and  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning,  containing  thirty- five 
acres,  and  including  the  public  square. 

Sarcasm  surely  existed  at  this  early  period,  for  the  court  record 
shows  that  W.  S.  Hamilton,  the  disappointed  proprietor  of  the 
"paper  town"  was  magnanimously  appointed  to  make  the  survey  of 
the  tract  donated  to  the  county,  but  this  appointment  was  scornf  ally 
ignored  by  him,  and  he  soon  left  this  part  of  the  country  forever. 
Thomas  M.  Neale  made  the  survey,  for  which  he  was  paid  $38.95. 

The  old  court  house  (the  Kelley  one)  was  sold  to  John  Taylor  on 
September  7,  1825,  for  $32.00,  and  the  contract  to  build  a  frame 
court  house  was  let  to  Thomas  M.  Neale  for  $449.00,  except  the 
chimney,  which  was  let  to  Joseph  Thomas  for  $70.00.  Robert 
Thompson  was  allowed  $2.50  for  the  plan  of  the  court  house.  On 
July  15,  1826,  the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  pay  T.  M.  Neale  balance 
of  $87.00  when  the  court  house  was  finished,  or  his  contract  fulfilled, 
and  John  Taylor  and  Chas.  R.  Matheny  were  appointed  to  receive 
the  house.  It  was  ordered  that  Chas.  White  be  employed  to  lath  and 
plaster  the  court  house  at  37^  cents  a  yard.  This  frame  court 
house  stood  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Adams  street. 

On  January  4,  1830,  it  was  ordered  that  a  brick  court 
house  be  built  on  or  about  the  middle  of  the  public  square,  as 
now  laid  out  in  the  town  of  Springfield  or  Calhoun.  John  Todd, 
Asa  S.  Shaw  and  Garret  Elkin,  were  appointed  agents  for  the  county 
to  contract  for  the  building  and  to  superintend  the  same.  The  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  let  the  contract  March  2,  1830.  On  March 
6,  1830,  the  committee  were  ordered  to  have  the  court  house  built 
near  the  center  of  the  square,  the  southeast  corner  to  be  at  a  stake 
set  by  the  commissioners  for  that  purpose. 

-  The  brick  court  house  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  square,  and  was 
completed  in  1831  at  a  cost  of  $6,841.00.  It  was  a  two-story  square, 
brick  building,  with  a  hip  roof,  and  cupalo  on  top,  similar  to  the 


11 

court  houses  peculiar  to  the  Mississippi  valley  at  that  period,  and 
from  the  time  it  was  built  all  the  business  of  the  town  centered 
around  the  square,  and  the  old  town  on  Jefferson  street  began  to  de- 
cay. The  row  of  small  shops  on  the  east  end  of  the  north  side  of  the 
square  was  called  "Chicken  Row."  In  the  fall  of  1835  a  young  man 
fresh  from  the  prim  and  dignified  courts  of  New  York  arrived  in 
Springfield.  He  wandered  into  the  brick  building  standing  in  the  center 
of  the  square,  and  saw  the  judge  on  his  bench  with  his  chair  tilted 
back,  his  heels  higher  than  his  head,  a  cob  pipe  in  his  mouth,  his 
hair  all  awry,  and  before  him  stood  a  small  dark  man  with  long  black 
hair  pleading  his  case.  Attentively  listening  sprawled  a  long  sombre 
form  on  the  low  platform  used  for  the  judge's  rostrum.  The  room 
was  filled  with  men  laughing  and  smoking.  The  judge  was  Stephen 
T.  Logan,  acknowledged  to  be  the  greatest  lawyer  Illinois  has  ever 
produced.  The  little  man  was  Stephen  A.  Douglas  the  "Little 
Giant,"  and  the  form  on  the  floor  was  that  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  des- 
tined in  the  years  to  come  to  be  the  two  foremost  characters  in  the 
most  formidable  crisis  the  Union  ever  knew. 

On  March  10,  1831,  the  old  court  house  (on  6th  and  Adams)  and 
the  lot  on  which  it  stood  were  sold  to  John  B.  Moffett  for  $626.00. 

On  March  10,  1831,  it  was  ordered  that  30  feet  of  the  north  end  of 
the  public  square  be  appropriated  for  a  walk,  provided  a  brick  mark- 
et house  is  built  in  the  street  not  less  than  40  feet  long.  This 
market  house  stood  in  the  middle  of  Sixth  street  just  north  of  Wash- 
ington, with  a  driveway  on  either  side,  the  street  being  widened  for 
that  purpose. 

In  the  Legislature  at  Vandalia  in  the  session  of  1836-7,  Sangamon 
county  was  represented  by  two  senators  and  seven  members  of  the 
lower  house.  They  were  a  singular  body  of  men,  all  tall  and  angu- 
lar and  their  combined  height  was  exactly  54  feet,  they  are  famous 
in  Illinois  history  as  the  "Long  Nine."  The  men  were  Abraham 
Lincoln,  Ninian  W.  Edwards,  Archer  G.  Herndon,  Job  Fletcher, 
John  Dawson,  Andrew  McCormack,  Dan  Stone,  William  F.  Elkin 
and  Robert  L.  Wilson.  "Honest  Old  Abe"  contributed  four  inches  to 
make  the  average  six  feet. 

The  capitol  of  the  State  at  this  time  was  at  Vandalia,  hav- 
ing been  removed  there  from  Kaskaskia  and  as  the  tide  of  emmigra- 
tion  was  moving  northward  it  was  conceded  that  the  capitol  must  be 
nearer  the  center  of  population ;  although  Vandalia  and  Southern 
Illinois  fought  hard  agaist  it. 

The  people  were  wild  over  a  mania  called  internal  improvements, 
a  plan  of  which  Governor  Duncan  was  a  strong  advocate,  and  which 
eventually  plunged  the  State  into  bankruptcy.  From  the  beginning 


Of  10. 


12 

of  the  session  the  "  Long  Nine"  set  to  work  "log  rolling."  They 
asked  for  no  public  improvements;  they  wanted  no  railroads,  no 
canals,  no  plank  roads,  but  would  help  out  any  member  that  did 
want  them  for  his  district,  if  he  would  vote  to  remove  the  capital  to 
Springfield. 

There  were  many  applicants,  and  on  the  first  ballot  Springfield  had 
but  35  out  of  121  votes.  The  vote  stood  as  follows:  Springfield  35, 
Jacksonville  14,  Vandalia  16,  Peoria  16,  Alton  15,  scattering  25. 
Illiopolis,  a  "paper  town"  of  mammoth  proportions,  covering  8,000 
acres,  laid  out  near  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  that  name,  by 
Governor  Duncan,  John  Taylor,  Eli  C.  Blakenship  and  the  Sangamo 
Land  Company,  received  ten  votes  on  the  second  ballot.  "  Poor  old 
Peoria,"  as  usual,  brought  up  the  rear  and  Springfield  captured  the 
prize  on  the  fourth  ballot. 

The  city  and  county  have  never  made  any  public  recognition  of 
the  valuable  services  rendered  by  the  "  Long  Nine,"  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  if  a  monument  is  not  erected  to  their  memory  in  the 
court  house  park,  their  names  at  least  may  be  inscribed  on  the 
historic  walls  of  the  building  they  so  skillfully  obtained  for  Spring- 
field. 

By  an  act  supplemental  to  the  act  permanently  locating  the  seat  of 
government  of  Illinois  at  Springfield,  approved  March  3,  1837,  the 
county  commissioners  were  empowered  to  convey  to  the  governor  of 
the  State  the  property  known  as  the  "public  square"  in  the  city 
of  Springfield,  containing  two  and  a  half  acres,  and  the  deed  to 
Governor  Joseph  Duncan  is  recorded  in  Book  "K,"  page  503. 
In  Book  "O,"  page  319,  is  recorded  a  contract  between  the  commis- 
sioners and  Leroy  L.  Hill,  in  which  Hill  gives  the  commissioners 
the  right  of  taking  from  hisjstone  quarry  on  Sugar  creek,  all  the 
rock  they  want  from  December  ],  1837,  to  January,  1841,  at  the  rate 
of  $1.00  per  load.  Mr.  Hill's  farm  was  on  Sugar  creek  near  the 
home  of  Uncle  Philemon  Stout,  and  the  peculiar  rock  in  the  present 
building  came  from  this  quarry.  Daniel  C.  and  David  A.  Brown, 
twin  brothers,  and  well  known  citizens,  at  fifteen  years  of  age  sawed 
all  the  lath  used  in  the  building. 

By  reason  of  a  defect  supposed  to  exist  in  the  former  deed  to 
the  state  an  order  was  entered  by  the  court  February  10,  1847, 
authorizing  the  commissioners  to  execute  another  deed  to  the  State 
for  the  public  square,  and  the  deed  to  Governor  French  can  be 
found  in  Book  "  Y,"  page  581. 

An  act  legalizing  both  deeds  was  passed  Feb.  17,  1847. 

An  act  passed  Feb.  25,  1867,  provided  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
State  house  and  the  Governor  was  empowered  to  reconvey  to  the 


13 

county  of  Sangatnon  and  the  city  of  Springfield  the  public  square  for 
the  sum  of  $200,000,  and  the  further  consideration  that  the  grantees 
cause  to  be  conveyed  to  the  State  the  tract  on  which  the  capitol  now 
stands  on  Second  street.  The  deed  from  Gov.  John  M.  Palmer  to 
the  county  and  city  is  recorded  in  book  41,  page  44,  and  the  deed 
from  the  city  to  the  county  is  recorded  in  book  41,  page  45. 

One  of  the  conditions  of  locating  the  capitol  in  Springfield  in  1837 
was  that  the  city  should  pay  $50,000  toward  the  erection  of  the  build- 
ing, and  although  the  population  was  but  1,100,  the  brave  little  town 
met  the  first  two  installments  promptly,  but  the  third  fell  due  just  as 
the  great  financial  crash  swept  over  the  country  and  while  the  build- 
ing was  still  uncompleted.  On  March  22,  1838,  101  loyal  citizens 
executed  their  joint  note  to  the  State  Bank  of  Illinois  for  $16,666.67 
and  the  money  was  paid  to  the  State.  The  note  was  paid  off  when 
it  became  due  and  is  now  preserved  at  the  Ridgely  bank.  The  note 
was  signed  by  John  Hay,  Joseph  Thayer,  M.  O.  Reeves.  W.  P. 
Grimsley,  William  Wallace,  Thomas  Mather,  D.  Prickett,  Washing- 
ton lies.  Joel  Johnson,  Wm.  S.  Burch,  C.  R.  Matheny,  Wm.  Butler, 
P.  C.  Latham,  N.  W.  Edwards,  J.  T.  Stuart,  George  Pasfield,  B.  C. 
Webster,  S.  M.  Tinsley,  J.  F.  Amos,  S.  Conant,  R.  B.  Zimmerman, 
James  L.  Lamb,  B.  Ferguson,  B.  Talbott,  Simeon  Francis,  Nathaniel 
Hay,  Robert  Irwin,  V.  Hickox,  Geo.  Trotter,  S.  T.  Logan,  E.  M. 
Henkle,  J.  W.  Keyes,  Jno.  G.  Bergen,  E.  Wright,  E.  D.  Baker,  A. 
Lincoln,  Garrett  Elkin,  G.  Jayne,  Abner  Y.  Ellis,  S.  H.  Treat,  E.  lies, 
James  Maxcy,  W.  M.  Cowgill  and  others. 

The  cost  was  estimated  at  $130,000,  but  the  sum  of  $240,000  was 
expended  on  the  building. 

After  the  conveyance  of  the  public  square  to  the  State  in  1837,  the 
brick  court  house  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  square  was  demolished 
to  make  room  for  the  State  house,  which  was  immediately  erected  on 
the  ground.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies 
July  4,  1837.  While  this  structure  was  in  course  of  erection  the 
State  departments  were  removed  in  wagons  (there  being  no  railroads) 
from  Vandalia  to  Springfield,  and  the  Senate  occupied  the  First 
Methodist  church  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Monroe  and  Fifth  streets 
and  the  House  of  Representatives  used  the  old  Second  Presbyterian 
church,  on  the  west  side  of  Fourth  street  and  south  of  the  alley,  just 
north  of  the  present  church.  The  supreme  court  sat  in  the  Episcopal 
(St.  Paul's)  church. 

In  1837,  after  such  conveyance  to  the  State,  the  county  leased  the 
buildings  on  the  west  side  of  Fifth  street,  just  north  of  Washington, 
the  same  being  known  as  "Hoffman's  Row." 


14 

Hoffman's  Row  was  occupied  by  the  county  until  1845,  when  a  lot 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Washington  streets,  fronting 
78ij  feet  on  Sixth  and  160  feet  on  Washington,  was  purchased  by  the 
county,  May  14th  of  that  year,  and  on  which  another  brick  court 
house,  with  stone  portico  and  trimmings,  was  built. 

It  stood  just  north  of  the  old  building  of  the  State  Bank  of  Illi- 
nois, the  two  buildings  occupying  the  half  block  on  the  east  side  of 
the  square.  They  were  massive,  picturesque  structures,  and  added 
much  dignity  to  the  town.  The  bank  was  a  Grecian  temple  on  the 
Corinthian  order,  and  the  court  house  was  of  Doric  architecture 

The  building  was  to  cost  according  to  the  contract,  $9,680. 

This  building  was  used  by  the  county  from  1845  to  January,  1876, 
when  the  State  moved  its  offices  to  the  present  State  capitol  and  va- 
cated the  public  square,  which  had  been  reconveyed  to  the  county  by 
deed  of  Oct.  23,  1869,  nearly  seven  years  before.  The  county  then 
moved  into  the  present  building,  and  the  court  house,  on  6th  and 
Washington  streets,  was  torn  away,  the  ground  subdivided  into  busi- 
ness lots  and  sold  off  in  1877. 

The  old  State  House,  being  large  and  spacious,  served  eminently 
for  a  court  house,  and  for  many  years  was  amply  sufficient  for  the 
needs  of  a  county  building.  But  the  county  was  rapidly  growing  in 
population  and  wealth,  and  the  business  necessarily  transacted  at 
the  court  house  gradually  increased,  until  it  became  apparent,  that, 
sooner  or  later,  more  room  must  be  provided. 

Another  matter  which  began  to  be  taken  into  account,  was  the 
condition  of  the  building  with  regard  to  fire.  John  Kelley's  con- 
tract had  no  such  phrases  as  "absolutely  fire-proof"  or  "practically 
fire-proof,"  and,  indeed,  the  old  State  House  seems  to  have  been  con- 
structed without  taking  danger  from  fire  into  consideration  at  all, 
except  that  the  office  of  the  State  Treasurer  (used  by  the  county  for 
the  recorder's  office) ,  was  provided  with  a  so  called  fire-proof  vault. 
The  remainder  of  the  building,  and  especially  the  roof  and  dome, 
would  in  these  days  be  called  "a  veritable  fire  trap." 

This  matter  of  jeopardizing  the  county  records,  which,  if  destroyed 
could  never  be  replaced,  was  often  pointed  out  and  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed. Finally,  on  the  llth  of  June,  1897,  Dr.  A.  L.  Converse 
introduced  a  resolution  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  setting  forth 
the  need  of  additional  room,  the  danger  from  fire,  etc.,  and  providing 
for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  investigate  the  matter. 

On  December  16th  this  committee  reported  in  substance,  that  they 
had  found  a  bigger  job  than  they  expected,  and  advised  that  nothing 
be  done  until  the  finances  of  the  county  would  justify  giving  the 
building  a  general  overhauling. 


15 

About  this  time,  many  of  the  business  men  of  the  city,  especially 
around  the  square,  began  to  get  ashamed  of  the  old  soft  gravel  walks 
in  the  court  house  yard  and  sent  a  petition  to  the  county  board 
asking  them  to  replace  these  horrid  walks  with  something  more 
up-to-date.  The  majority  of  the  supervisors,  however,  were  farmers, 
and  were  not  afraid  of  a  little  mud,  and  politely  suggested  to  their 
"city  cousins"  that  there  were  other  things  needed  more  than  walks. 

Public  sentiment,  when  aimed  in  a  certain  direction,  is  a  potent 
factor  in  influencing  to  action  men  in  public  service  The  need  of 
doing  something  with  the  court  house  was  now  fully  apparent,  but 
public  sentiment  was  greatly  divided  on  what  to  do. 

One  idea  advanced  was  to  sell  off  three-fourths  of  the  public  square 
and  build  a  new  court  house  on  the  remaining  quarter  with  the 
money  thus  obtained.  H.  H.  Biggs  introduced  a  resolution  in  the 
board  of  supervisors  to  this  effect  September  13,  1898. 

This  idea  met  with  violent  opposition.  The  old  building  was  one 
of  historic  interest.  It  halls  had  echoed  the  voices  of  Lincoln  and 
Douglas  in  matters  of  vital  import  to  the  State  and  Nation.  Within 
its  walls  Stephen  T.  Logan,  Illinois'  greatest  lawyer,  and  other  noted 
men  had  pleaded  with  juries  for  the  lives  and  liberties  of  their  fellow 
men.  Its  corridor  had  baen  made  sacred  by  having  held  in  state,  the 
remains  of  the  lamented  Lincoln.  Under  its  dome  many  stirring 
scenes,  "in  times  which  tried  men's  souls"  had  been  enacted.  So  filled 
was,  indeed,  the  whole  structure  with  recollections,  pleasant  and 
otherwise,  that  the  sentiment  was  well  nigh  universal,  that  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  time-honored  building  must  not  be  molested. 

A  resolution  in  harmony  with  this  feeling,  but  pointing  to  some 
plan  for  improving  the  building  was  introduced  in  the  County  Board 
September  15,  by  Thomas  C.  Mather,  and  met  with  hearty  support. 
It  was  generally  agreed  that,  sometime,  somehow,  something  must 
be  done  to  enlarge  the  space  and  fireproof  the  building  but  the  great 
obstacle  in  the  way,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  was  how  to  meet  the 
expense.  The  financial  condition  of  the  county  lent  little  encour- 
agement. The  constitutional  levy  of  75c  on  the  $100  hardly  fur- 
nished sufficent  revenue  to  defray  the  current  expenses  of  the  Coun- 
ty. The  railroad  bonds  isssed  on  account  of  the  Springfield  and  Illi- 
nois Southeastern,  and  Oilman,  Clinton,  and  Springfield  railroads 
had  not  all  been  paid.  The  permanent  location  of  the  State  Fair  at 
Springfield  had  cost  the  County  $75,000,  none  of  which  had  been 
paid.  However,  the  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee  which  at  a 
special  meeting  October  4th,  reported  that  they  had  fully  examined 
the  building,  found  it  inadequate,  dangerous  and  unsafe;  that  they 
believed  it  inexpedient  and  undesirable  to  sell  off  any  of  the 


17 

ground,  but  advised  that  steps  be  taken  at  once,  to  remodel,  enlarge 
and  fireproof  the  old  building.  On  the  acceptance  of  this  report  the 
Board  decided  to  submit  the  question  of  levying  a  tax  of  $100,000  to 
remodel  the  Court  House,  to  the  voters  of  the  county  at  the  county 
election  in  November.  This  action  of  the  Board  was  taken  in  a 
"committee  of  the  whole;"  it  found  itself  in  the  (w)hole  many  times 
afterward. 

A  majority  of  the  votes  cast  on  the  question,  at  the  election,  were 
in  favor  of  the  additional  tax,  so  the  question  of  remodeling  the  court 
house  came  squarely  before  the  board  of  supervisors. 

The  question  of  plans  now  became  the  paramount  idea,  and  every- 
body had  a  notion  of  his  own.  It  was  thought  that  the  large  corridor 
running  north  and  south  through  the  building,  if  properly  utilized, 
.would  afford  the  necessary  additional  room,  and  would  not  " change 
the  external  appearance  of  the  building."  Some  advocated  building 
wings  on  the  building,  others  tearing  off  the  roof  and  adding  a  story 
on  the  top,  but  as  these  were  not  in  harmony  with  the  prevailing 
idea,  but.  little  attention  was  paid  to  them.  S.  J.  Hanes,  one  of  the 
architects,  who  afterwards  furnished  the  plans,  advanced  the  idea  of 
raising  the  building  and  constructing  a  complete  story  underneath, 
which,  he  insisted  would  not  mar  the  external  appearance  but  rather 
improve  it.  This  idea,  although  it  was  later  adopted,  was  looked 
upon  as  an  utter  impossibility  and  cast  aside.  Mr.  Mather  solved 
the  problem  for  the  time  being  with  an  omnibus  resolution  which,  in 
substance,  provided  for  an  extension  of  $20,000.00  on  the  tax  books 
for  the  ensuing  year  by  way  of  a  starter ;  that  architects  be  invited 
to  prepare  plans  arid  specifications,  to  present  to  the  board  ;  that  cer- 
tain premiums  be  offered  to  architects  to  induce  them  to  submit  plans  ; 
that  the  necessary  committee  be  appointed,  etc.,  etc.  Lest  the  pre- 
vailing idea  should  be  lost  sight  of,  E.  S.  Scott  tacked  on  a  little  pro- 
viso that  none  of  the  plans  should  provide  for  any  "  change  in  its 
external  appearance."  This  resolution  was  then  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
21  to  16,  with  the  express  understanding  that  the  cost  should  not  ex- 
ceed $50,000.00,  and  the  following  committee  'appointed,  being  the 
first  committee  on  "  Remodeling  the  Court  House  :  "  E.  L.  Stock- 
dale,  of  Talkington,  J.  H.  Maxcy,  of  Island  Grove,  J.  H.  Crowder,  of 
Cotton  Hill,  Thomas  C.  Mather  and  H.  H.  Biggs,  of  Capital  town- 
ship. At  the  next  meeting,  this  committee  submitted  three  plans, 
and  after  much  deliberating,  a  plan  presented  by  S.  J.  Hanes  was 
adopted,  but  the  proposition  to  raise  the  building  was  defeated. 
Hanes  and  S.  A.  Bullard  were  jointly  employed  to  superintend  the  job. 

The  contract  was  let  on  March  29,  1899,  to  Warren  Roberts  &  Co., 
of  Chicago,  for  $49,8,50.00. 


18 

On  April  5th,  the  county  officers  moved  to  their  temporary  quar- 
ters, the  most  of  whom  found  shelter  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  building,  cor- 
ner Fourth  and  Monroe  streets.  The  building  committee  was  now 
changed.  E.  S.  Scott  and  J.  M.  Amos  were  appointed  in  place  of 
Messrs.  Biggs  and  Crowder  whose  term  expired,  and  Mr.  Simmons  in 
place  of  Mr.  Mather,  who  did  not  wish  to  serve  longer  on  the  com- 
mittee. Mr.  J.  O.  Joy,  chairman  of  the  Board  was  also  added  to  the 
committee.  This  committee  chose  Mr.  George  Simmons  as  general 
overseer.  At  the  expiration  of  their  term,  Messrs.  Scott  and  Amos 
were  succeeded  by  Philip  Nelch  and  G.  W.  M.  Gordon,  otherwise 
the  committee  remained  the  same. 

After  the  contract  had  been  let  and  the  old  building  dismantled, 
those  who  frequented  the  court  house  began  to  entertain  some  fear 
lest  after  all  the  building,  when  remodeled,  would  not  furnish  the 
necessary  room.  Hanes  still  stuck  to  his  theory  that  the  building 
could  be  raised  and  its  appearance  preserved,  and  even  augmented. 
This  theory  gradually  gained  in  favor  until  finally,  May  15,  Mr. 
Mather  secured  the  passage  of  a  resolution  in  conformity  with  this 
idea.  Of  course  it  became  necessary  to  get  the  consent  of  the  con- 
tractor in  order  to  [make  the  change,  but  "Barkis  was  willin'  "  and 
accordingly  on  the  14th  day  of  June  a  second  contract  was  made  with 
^the  same  firm  (they  being  the  lowest  bidders),  by  which  the  entire 
building  was  to  be  raised  eleven  feet,  and  a  complete  story  built 
underneath,  for  $27,500.  This  was  the  greatest  feat  of  engineering 
skill  ever  attempted  in  the  county,  but  it  was  successfully  done. 
Several  weeks  were  consumed  in  placing  the  "jacks"  and  blocks  into 
position,  but  when  at  length  everything  was  ready,  the  entire  build- 
ing was  raised  the  eleven  feet  in  about  twelve  days,  or  an  average 
of  nearly  a  foot  a  day,  and  it  was  generally  conceded  that  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  structure  had  been  enhanced  rather  than  deteriorated, 
except  that  the  dome  now  "looked  too  squatty,"  and  the  agitation  at 
once  arose  that  it  too  must  be  improved.  All  the  contracts  up  to  this 
time  had  provided  for  making  the  building  "practically  fire-proof," 
and  as  the  old  framework  in  the  roof  and  dome  was  the  worst  fire- 
trap  of  all,  it  was  soon  decided  that  it  must  "go."  So  after  the  usual 
"resolutin'  "  the  contract  for  a  new  roof  and  dome  was  let  to  the 
same  firm  for  $12,000.  The  court  house  was  now  very  much  like  the 
Irishman's  old  barrel;  although  it  had  had  new  heads,  new  hoops  and 
new  staves,  Pat  still  maintained  it  had  the  same  old  "bung,"  and  con- 
sequently was  the  same  old  barrel;  so  it  appeared,  especially  to  those 
who  had  opposed  the  improvements,  that  the  only  thing  to  be  left  of 
the  old  court  house  would  be  the  "bung,"  if  it  had  one. 


19 

This  completed  the  improvements  so  far  as  the  building  was  con- 
cerned, although  it  was  sarcastically  suggested  that  the  stone  in  the 
walls  "looked  pretty  shabby."  New  troubles  arose,  however,  in  the 
way  of  furniture.  Something  up-to-date  and  commensurate  with 
the  improved  building  must  be  provided.  This  proved  to  be  as  per- 
plexing a  problem  as  the  building  itself.  For  nearly  two  years 
the  board  of  supervisors  wrestled  with  it.  There  were  whereases 
and  resolutions  innumerable,  motions,  amendments,  substitutes, 
re-considerations  and  tax  levies  galore;  and  always  the  inevitable 
"committee,"  without  which  no  special  work  by  a  public  body  of  men 
is  ever  possible.  Finally  two  contracts  were  let,  one  to  Geo.  D. 
Barnard  &  Co.  of  St.  Louis,  for  the  steel  furniture,  consisting  of  fire- 
proof file  cases,  book  shelves,  counters,  etc.,  for  the  sum  of  $20,517; 
and  one  to  the  Wollaeger  Mfg.  Co.  of  Milwaukee,  for  wooden  furni- 
niture  consisting  of  tables,  desks,  chairs,  and  other  innumerable  par- 
aphernalia for  the  various  rooms  and  offices  for  $11,750.  (Jacob 
Ellis  supplied  the  "furniture"  for  the  first  court  house  which  con- 
sisted of  a  judge's  seat  and  bar,  for  which  he  received  the  ex- 
horbitant  (?)  sum  of  four  dollars  and  fifty  cents.) 

During  the  progress  of  the  remodeling  of  the  court  house  the  old 
soldiers  sent  a  petition  to  the  County  Board  asking  that  a  room  be 
set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  The  old 
veterans  usually  get  what  they  go  after,  and  the  result  of  their  effort 
in  this  direction  is  that  now  an  elegant  room  on  the  fourth  floor  has 
been  provided  and  neatly  furnished  for  their  "use,  benefit  and  behoof 
forever,"  and  which  is  known  as  Grand  Army  Hall. 

Another  matter  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  board,  but  as 
yet  no  action  has  been  taken.  When  a  citizen  of  the  county  becomes 
insane  the  only  place  to  confine  him  pending  an  investigation  and 
commitment  to  an  asylum,  is  the  jail  along  with  common  criminals. 
Judge  Murray  has  been  especially  active  in  an  effort  to  have  a  room 
in  the  court  house  which  might  be  fitted  up  expressly  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  board  at  one  time  acted  favorably  on  his  suggestion  and 
recommended  that  such  a  place  be  provided,  but  somehow  in  the 
confusion  it  has  been  overlooked.  The  committee  and  architects, 
however,  are  of  the  opinion  that  some  of  the  unoccupied  rooms  can 
yet  be  fitted  up  for  this  purpose,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  they  will 
be  able  to  do  so,  and  in  future  spare  the  families  of  such  unfortunate 
people  the  humiliation  of  seeing  their  relatives  and  friends  confined 
like  criminals  in  a  common  bastile. 


20 

The  total  cost  of  remodeling  the  court  house  can,  at  present,  be 
only  approximated,  as  the  work  is  not  entirely  completed  and  many 
of  the  little  incidentals  are  not  yet  paid  for.  The  following  figures, 
however,  are  substantially  correct: 

The  Warren  Roberts  Co.,  three  contracts  and  extras. .  .$103,220  07 

Less  credits  for  old  material  sold  and  changes 2,491  86 

$100,728  21 

Geo.  D.  Barnard  &  Co.,  contract  and  extras 20.971  75 

The  \V  ollaeger  Mfg.  Co. ,  contract  and  extras 12,471  00 

Hanes  and  Bullard,  architects 6,771  40 

Electric  wiring,  clocks,  frescoe,  arbitration,  etc 9,186  02 

Furnishing  Grand  Army  Hall 2  259  80 

Cement  walks,  etc 2,736  72 


Making  a  total  cost  of  improvements  to  date,  not  including  the 
curtains,  carpets,  linoleum,  furnishing  dormitory,  etc $155,125  90 

In  order  to  get  the  total  expense  the  county  has  been  to  on  account 
of  the  remodeling  of  the  court  house,  there  should  be  added  to  the 
above,  $16.994,  which  has  been  paid  out  for  rent,  moving  and  other 
miscellaneous  items,  which,  with  a  reasonable  estimate  for  the  un- 
completed work,  will  make  in  round  numbers  $175,000  as  the  total 
cost  of  the  improvements. 

The  old  "gravel  paths"  through  the  court  house  yard  have  now 
been  supplemented  by  cement  walks  which  defy  stone  itself  in 
strength  and  durability,  diverging  from  the  building  and  angling 
across  the  grounds,  making  it  easily  accessible  from  every  direction. 
Two  large  cannon,  the  combined  weight  of  which  is  6,900  pounds, 
stationed  on  either  side  of  the  building  add  much  to  the  ornamenta- 
tion of  the  grounds.  These  are  the  gift  of  our  distinguished  citizen, 
Congressman  Ben,  F.  Caldwell,  and  are  dedicated  to  the  county  in 
honor  of  her  soldiery. 

Judge  James  H.  Matheney  once  planted  a  maple  tree  in  the  court 
house  grounds,  just  southwest  of  the  building,  which  he  dedicated  to 
Stephenson  Post  No.  30,  G.  A.  R.  This  tree  was  struck  by  lightning 
and  materially  disfigured.  On  Friday  afternoon,  April  26,  1901,  the 
Post  reciprocated  this  tender  act  of  affection  by  planting  to  his  mem- 
ory a  beautiful  poplar  tree  near  the  site  selected  by  the  deceased 
judge  for  his  tree.  The  planting  was  attended  with  appropriate  exer- 
cises, Judge  G.  W.  Murray  delivering  the  address. 

Another  ornament  (?)  once  adorned  the  public  square,  but  which 
has  loug  since  been  removed.  This  was  the  whippihg  post  which 
stood  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  square,  adjacent  to  the  jaii. 
This  post  has  passed  out  of  the  recollection  of  many  of  the  old  in- 
inhabitants,  and  a  majority  of  our  citizens  of  today  do  not  know  that 
one  was  ever  established.  Such  is  the  fact,  however,  and  several 
persons  "paid  the  penalty  of  their  misdeeds"  at  that  post.  An  old 
settler  informed  the  writer  that  it  was  only  used  for  "little  offenses 


21 

• 

like  petty  stealing  and  wife-beating."  It  is  said  that  James  D. 
Henry  was  the  last  sheriff  who  used  the  post,  and  he  often  remarked 
that  he  was  so  chicken-hearted  that  he  suffered  more  when  inflicting 
the  penalty  than  the  offender  he  punished.  On  the  other  hand.  Judge 
Sawyer  rather  enjoyed  seeing  the  punishment  inflicted.  It  finally 
came  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  "relic  of  barbarism"  and  dropped  into 
disuse. 

The  building  itself,  as  it  stands  today,  is  a  marvel  of  strength  and 
beauty.  It  is  the  Grecian-Doric  style  of  architecture,  especially  ap- 
plicable to  buildings  of  its  character,  and  is  one  of  the  very  few  to 
be  found  anywhere  in  the  United  States.  It  is  123  feet  long,  90 
feet  wide,  and  to  the  top  of  the  flag-staff  is  154  feet.  From  the 
ground  to  the  cornice  line  is  57  feet.  The  porticos  on  the  north  and 
south  project  llf  feet.  There  are  three  full  floors  of  offices  and  an 
upper  story  in  which  is  the  G.  A.  R.  hall,  the  dormitory,  the  gallery 
of  the  circuit  court  and  storage  rooms. 

Grand,  solitary,  dignified,  historic  old  structure,  sufficient  for 
years  for  the  needs  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Illinois,  yet  grown 
too  small  for  the  business  of  a  county.  For  three-quarters  of  a  cen- 
tury it  has  been  a  faithful  servant  of  the  public,  and  as  it  stands  to- 
daj7,  remodeled,  enlarged,  renewed,  bids  fair  to  perform  its  part  and 
take  its  place  in  the  history  of  another  century,  which  is  yet  to  be 
made  and  written. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  note,  briefly,  something  of  the  history  of 
the  county  as  a  county,  from  its  origin  to  the  present  time.  There 
were  originally  (June  5,  1821),  four  townships,  as  follows: 

"Sangamon,  comprised  'all  the  territory  east  of  Edward's  old  trace.'  " 

"Springfield,  west  of  Edward's  old  trace  including  all  the  settle- 
ments on  Spring  Creek.'' 

"Richland,  west  of  Spring  Creek  and  south  of  the  Sangamon  river." 

"Union,  west  of  Edward's  old  trace,  and  north  of  the  Sangamon 
river." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Kelly  settlement  on  Spring  Creek 
was  the  "hub"  from  which  all  the  rest  of  the  unsettled  territory 
branched.  As  this  remote  territory  settled  up  new  counties  were 
formed  out  of  the  famous  Sangamo,  and  gradually  its  proportions 
decreased  to  its  present  size.  Macon,  on  the  east,  swung  off  Jan- 
uary 19,  1829.  Morgan,  on  the  west,  next  "followed  suit"  February 
12,  1835,  Cass,  on  the  northwest,  was  next  to  go  March  3,  1837. 
Logan,  on  the  north,  and  Dane  (now  Christian),  on  the  southeast, 
simultaneously  severed  their  connection  with  us  February  15,  1839. 
Finally,  little  Menard  concluded  she  could  take  care  of  herself,  and 


22 

• 

organized  as  a  county  February  28,  1847.*  Late  in  the  year  1860, 
Sangamon  county,  by  vote  decided  to  change  her  form  of  govern- 
ment and  adopted  the  "New  England"  system  of  township  organiza- 
tion. Accordingly,  April  29,  1861,  the  first  board  of  supervisors  met 
at  the  court  house  and  organized  by  electing  William  Lavely  chair- 
man. This  was  just  forty  years  ago,  and  forty  years  after  the 
organization  as  a  county  (April,  1821) ,  There  were  then  23  super- 
visors representing  22  townships,  Springfield  having  two  supervisors. 
There  are  now  27  townships  with  40  supervisors,  the  city  having  13. 

In  1821  the  tax  rate  was  "one-half  percentum"  and  George  Hay- 
worth,  the  county  treasurer  for  that  year,  reported  to  the^jourt  that 
he  had  collected  $447.44,  and  his  report  shows  charges  against  the 
county  amounting  to  just  $447.44.  George  must  have  figured  pretty 
close,  or  else  collected  just  enough  to  pay  expenses  and  then  quit. 
After  reducing  the  territory  to  about  one-seventh  its  original  size 
the  assessed  valuation  in  1900  was  $14,386,168.00,  the  rate  being  two 
and  one-half  mills  higher  than  in  1821. 

The  first  officers  of  the  county  were: 

Probate  Judge — James  Latham. 

Sheriff— John  Taylor. 

County  Clerk — Charles  R  Matheny. 

Circuit  Clerk — Charles  R.  Matheny. 

Recorder — Charles  R.  Matheny. 

Treasurer — George  Hay  worth.  (James  Sims  having  refused  to 
qualify.) 

Coroner — Joseph  Dickson. 

Surveyor — James  C.  Stephenson. 

Prosecuting  Attorney — Samuel  D.  Lockwood.  (Later  judge  of 
the  supreme  court. 

Prosecuting  Attorney  in  1835 — Stephen  A.  Douglas. 

*The  above  dates  refer  to  the  final  establishing  of  the  county  lines  as  they  exist  today. 


23 


COMPLETE  DIRECTORY  OP  SANGAMON   COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE. 

OFFICERS,   DEPUTIES,  ETC. 

Circuit  court  room,  third  floor,  west  side. 

JUDGES. 

JAMES  A.  CREIGHTON,  Springfield. 
Robert  B.  Shirley,  Carlinville.  Owen  P.  Thompson,  Jacksonville. 

Official  court  reporter,  third  floor,  south  side. 
THOMAS  H.  CHENEY,  Reporter.  Nellie  Cheney,  assistant. 

Master  in  chancery,  third  floor,  southeast  corner. 

CHARLES  A.  KEYES,  Master.  Mary  Lawler,  stenographer  and  type- 

[writer. 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  first  flooc,  northwest  corner. 

E.  Dow  MATHENY,  Circuit  Clerk. 

DEPUTIES. 

John  L.  Bliss, 

George  N.  Kratnp,  Eleanor  Matheny. 

County  court  room,  second  floor,  east  side. 

GEORGE  W.  MURRAY,  Judge. 

County  clerk's  office,  second  floor,  southeast  corner. 

CHARLES  E.  OPEL,  County  Clerk. 

DEPUTIES. 

H.  D.  Giger,  Chief  Deputy. 

Eugene  McLaughlin,  Fred  W.  Long  (Probate), 

Edwin  L.  Hurt,  George  J.  Ambrose. 

Sheriff,  first  floor,  north  side. 
CHARLIE  M.  WOODS,  Sheriff. 

DEPUTIES. 

John  H.  Underwood,  Chief  Deputy. 

Peter  Ettelbrick,  James  A.  Raynolds, 

Frank  Ryan,  William  0.  Guyton. 

George  W.  Denton,  bailiff  county  court. 
James  J.  Powers  and  Chas.  A.  Clayton,  bailiffs  circuit  court. 

Edward  M.  Cresse,  jailer. 
Dennis  Gannan  and  Harry  Taylor,  turnkeys. 

Thomas  P.  Galligan,  assistant  turnkey. 

County  treasurer  and  supervisor  of  assessments,  first  floor,  southwest  corner. 
RICHARD  F.  KINSELLA,  Treasurer. 

DEPUTIES. 

Patrick  J.  Rourke,  Chief  Deputy. 
Charles  T.  Headenburg,    Simon  M.  Rogers,  Department  iSupt.  Ass'm'ts. 


24 

County  recorder,  first  floor,  southeast  corner. 
BENJAMIN  RICH,  Recorder. 

DEPUTIES. 
Arthur  S.  Peel,  Chief  Deputy. 

Florence  A.  Rich, 
Chas.  R.  Peel,  custodian  of  records. 

State's  attorney's  office,  first  floor,  northeast  corner. 

WILLIAM  E.  SHUTT,  JR.,  State's  Attorney. 
Horace  S.  Miller,  Assistant. 

County  superintendent  of  schools,  second  floor,  northwest  corner. 

CHARLES  VANDORN,  Superintendent. 
Otho  L.  Caldwell,  Assistant. 

Coroner's  Office. 
CHARLES  J.  BAER,  Coroner. 

County  Surveyor's  Office. 
ALLEN  ENDS,  Surveyor. 

Janitors. 

JACOB  RUCH,  Chief  Janitor. 

Edward  Fossett,  James  Osby, 

John  Highfield,  Night  Watchman. 

Probate  court  (not  yet  established),  second  floor,  west  side. 
Grand  jury  room,  third  floor,  north  side. 
G.  A.  R.  hall,  fourth  floor,  east  side. 
Supervisors'  room,  third  floor,  east  side. 

BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS,   1901. 

G.  C.  Edwards,  Chm . . .  Buffalo  Hart    J.  0.  Joy - Loami 

J.  C.  Allen Capital    Thomas  Mather Capital 

E.  M.  Anderson Maxwell    J.  H.  Maxcy Island  Grove 

A.  M.  Archer Cotton  Hill    Henry  Mester Springfield 

Geo.  J.  Barrett Capital    M.  F.  Murphy New  Berlin 

Chas.  Baughman Curran    C.  T.  Murphy Auburn 

H.  H.  Biggs Capital    J.  D.  Myers Capital 

T.  E.  Brittin Williams    Philip  Nelch Capital 

J.  R.  Burtle Ball    K.  N.  Olson Salisbury 

J.  T.  Capps Capital    Andrew  Reid Woodside 

F.  E.  Edmands Capital    A.  Robinson Cooper 

Jacob  Frisch Capital    M.  J.  Sanders Pawnee 

Frank  Godley Capital    J.  L.  Shartzer -. Illiopolis 

G.  W.  M.  Gordon Capital    E.  L.  Stockdale Talkington 

T.  J.  Gorey Chatham    Thomas  Thornton Rochester 

C.  -B.  Hall Mechanicsburg    T.  A.  Tomlin Cartwright 

O.  M.  Hatch Capital    John  Underfanger Capital 

C.  A.  Havey Gardner    Rufus  Underwood Divernon 

James  Herrin Lanesville    E.  C.  Vandagrift Fancy  Creek 

M.  J.  Howard Springfield    Chas.  Werner Clear  Lake 


25 


April  29,  1861.  April  29,  1901 

REOPENING  OF  THE  COURT  HOUSE. 

FORTIETH   ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE   ORGANIZATION  OF  THE   BOARD  OF 
SUPERVISORS  OF  SANGAMON  COUNTY. 

PROGRAM  OF  EXERCISES: 

Invocation Rev.  David  F.  Howe 

Music 

Address Hon.  Thomas  C.  Mather 

Representing  the  Building  Committee. 

Music 

Address Hon.  William  L  Gross 

"  Sangamon  County,  and  its  Judiciary." 

Music 

Address Hon.  James  A.  Connolly 

On  behalf  of  the  Grand  Army. 

Music 

Address J udge  George  W.  Murray 

"  Our  New  Court  House  aud  Special  Guests — The  Grand  Army  of  the 

Republic." 

Music 

Benediction Rev.  Father  Timothy  Hickey 

Joseph  O.  Joy,  Master  of  Ceremonies. 

Exercises  in  circuit  court  room  to  begin  promptly  at  8  o'clock  p.  m. 

JOHN  T.  CAPPS, 
JACOB  FRISCH, 
CHARLES  T.  MURPHY, 
Committee  in  Charge. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

917  7356G36S  C002 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  SANGAMON  COUNTY  COURT  H 


30112025341311 


